Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-28

sailed In without Marion The room was al
ready full of gu so that there was not
much time for explanation Mrs. Evans mere
" sail that We must see her niece at another
time, for really she had not the courage to
bring so large party.
-Four --latest You know, my dear Miss
Fitzgerald, it would have been too much aud
Marion herself saw It, and offered 10 stay at
| home"
bowed very coldly TO the proud scheming
woman. | knew all about II. | could see
! Marion in her white dress, with the cOnvOlyull
on her golden hair, aud knew that her rela.
! tives had refused tO bring her because she
! looked 5 beau ful-she would have eclIpsed
! them. | never say Gerald 50 angry; polite
ness forbade his showing IT,
'she shall have her flowers, Nellie, and
have them tonight" he whispered.
GLOW can You manage thatP' | asked.
"Lcave II To me-" was the reply. "Au Is
| fair in love aud war"
He said no more He did his duty He
danced with Miss D. Courcy Evans aud with
| Miss Arabel a; aud then for about half an
/ hour missed him. but | guessed whittier he
had gone.
IL was late before our party broke up.
had never seen Gerald SO animated nor so
| happy before. lie seemed to have forgiven
Mrs. Evans, for he talked and laughed with
her. he was in the widest Of spirits. When
the last carriage drove away he ran back iuto
the drawingroom to me-
"Nellie," he said, ''lhe moon Is shining as
bright day. Come out into the garden
with me for a few moments-I have some
thing to tell YOU"
He did not wait for my consent, but threw
a shawl around me aud took me out.
81 gave her the flowers" he said, after
brief silence
"iiow did YOU manage to see herr asked.
Don't be shoc>cd, dear | brib q one OF
the maid servants to ask her to come down to
the garden"
suppose she tells Mrs. Evansl' | said.
81 do not care. am so glad | acted as
did. Poor child, her eyes were swollen with
crying; only imagine how cruelty they served
her They never told her she wa, not comns
until she dresse /; and then her aunt sa
she feared they woull be too large a party to
60 from one house. know how it was-she
looked too beautiful"
"1hat was it, Gerald; saw IT,"
'She is most loyal little creature. She
never said n word against her aunt, and
/
schemng old woman Marion has had
miserable life all these years
Il arn sure Of IT,"
81 have done my best to change it for her.
Nellie. She looked so sad and So beautiful
her childish face covered with tears, that
could not help til kissed her aud asked her
to be my wife"
1T is very sudden" said, startled beyond
measure.
Not 10 me-" he replied II don't mind
telling you now, Nellie, but | have loved her
from the first moment saw her. made up
nv mind then that, IL she would have me.
would marry her"
She is So young; she really needs to GO 10
school rather than to be married!n
81 know that, snd mean her TO have good
masters for a year or two-hut | intend to
marry her first. You do not know, Nellie,
what sweet girl she is, nor how dearly
love her. Say You are pleased, or the happiest
day OF NV life will be marre1m
81 am pleased, Gerald" said; 'and will
do all can to help YOU. for love her myself
almost as much as you do"
"Not quite" he remarked dryly. "Thcre
will be some fine scenes with Mrs. De COurcy
Evans"
You had better leave me to manage her,
Gerald. am sure that she can make il very
dsagrecable FOR YOU If SIZE likes. 1t viii be
better TO couci.ate her
"Do as Won Ike; 'You have more patience
and plonacy than have ever had But,
Nellie. she must know i' at ouce."
promised that would 20 and see Mrs
Evans on he morrow
did not sep much that night. half
dreaded the coming Interview. 1t vas about
noon when ! called az No @. The Fat we're
not prouitious. Mrs. Evans was engaged with
some person on business SAW the Young
ladies. They were as u.ual fun OF cord .ality
and friendship. Ii they had bat known wh,
| was there! waited some little { me Iut
could not see Mrs. Evans ] ha le the young
ladies good morning. resolving To cal on the
following day When | reached the front
door, | remembered that had left INV sun
shade in the drawing room / went back my
self intending 10 ask atwha, h0ur Mrs. Evans
would be dseng,ged on the day following.
just az reached the door | heard the elder
sister say to the younger
"YOu will never succeed, Arabcla while
that girl is in the no Ise Mamma must send
her away"
felt convinced the success meant Arabela
vim nc nv brother, and smiled as / thought
how soon the girl" would be away from their
house and mistress of mine.
ION the following morning called again.
How little thought what strange events that
day would bring forthl / soon found that all
was not as serene as usual at my ncxt-door
neighbours. Mrs Evans looked flushed and
sngry; the young ladies' faces wore an ex-
preston of something like graf fled malice.
| had evidently arrived in the midst OF a
scene" ! remember every detail Of that
morning call so well. Tho ormolu clock was
Ginning halt past twelve when | entered.
sat alone for some minutes. Miss Arabella
joined me first, and then the others came in
IL have hal very UNPLEASANT duty to per-
form this morning, my dear Miss Filz GERALD"
the elder lady began in n very lackadaisica
voice. have been Obliged to sco.d my niece
very severely | am afraid she is a most de-
ceitfuI girl There can be no greater fault in
any one than deceit detcst III"
"What has she been dongf' asked.
"Only imaginev said Miss Arabella. I
went quite accidentally into her room this
morning and saw fbnre ma of ,ba mo-,